New York State Bridge Authority to earn $1.24M on cable leases

Thursday

Aug 8, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Judy Rife

HIGHLAND — The New York State Bridge Authority will generate $1.24 million over the next 10 years through new leases for excess capacity in its fiber optic network.Joseph Ruggiero, the authority's executive director, said Cablevision and Verizon will lease some of the excess capacity in the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge's cable to enhance their own regional operations. “This type of revenue has a long-term benefit to the bottom line,” said Ruggiero. The authority signed its first excess capacity lease in 2011 with Time Warner Cable at the Mid-Hudson Bridge. The company agreed to pay $480,000 over 10 years for the access. The revenue from this program, as well as the authority's sale of advertising space at and near its toll plazas, are parts of what Ruggiero calls an “innovative” and “proactive” approach to keeping tolls as low as possible.The authority, which receives no state or federal aid, collects about $39 million a year in tolls. Tolls were raised last year for the first time since 2000, to $1.25 for cars with E-ZPass and $1.50 without it.judyrife@gmail.com